I’ve often said that there are no contradictory verses in the Bible and I believe this.
This includes Mathew 6 v 14 and 15 and Ephesians 4 v 32.
One says that God forgives us once we forgive (Matthew 6 v 14 and 15) however the other says that we can forgive as God has forgiven us first (Ephesians 4 v 32).
One says we have to forgive before God, yet the other says we forgive after God has done so!
Can both be true? They seem to be saying the opposite.
Yes, they are both true as they are both in the Word.
The key is that they were said under different covenants, one was pre-cross and one- was post cross, and as we all should know, the cross changed everything.
Jesus spoke under the Old Covenant to people living when their performance was key.
Paul wrote to the New Covenant church after the finished work of Jesus when it was the performance of Jesus that was important.
Jesus spoke under law but Paul wrote under grace.
So the passages were written to different people living under different covenants, so both are true and valid.
We now live under grace in the New Covenant so what Paul wrote is the passage that holds for us.
God has already forgiven us, He forgave us first.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I live under grace and have already been forgiven for ALL my sin”.
Ephesians 4 v 32…..And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forging one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you
Heilan Word Ministries 